Bass players generally get the least attention in a band, but that doesn’t mean they don’t profit from it just as much as singers and guitar players. The Richest took a look at the top bottom enders and it found there’s quite a bit of wealth in those low notes. Here’s what it found:
1. Paul McCartney – $1.2 billion (no surprise there)
2. (tie) Sting – $300 million
2. (tie) Gene Simmons (Kiss) – $300 million
4. Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) – $270 million
5. Adam Clayton (U2) – $150 million
6. Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) – $115 million
6. John Deacon (Queen) – $115 million
8. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) – $80 million
8. Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones) – $80 million
10. Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath) – $65 million
11. Tony Kanal (No Doubt) – $45 million
12. Krist Novoselic (Nirvana) – $40 million
Here’s the trick. All of the above except for Wyman are songwriters as well as bass players, which proves the old music adage, “If you want to get rich, write a hit song!”
